Chapter 7 - Starlight
She was dreaming again, that much was certain. Standing in that familiar field with the mountains lining the horizon, Schuyler spun her head around in search for her mom and Jack, only to find she is alone again.
A heavy gust of warm air blows in the wind, picking up dust and shrubbery. Shielding her eyes from the debris, Schuyler held an arm out in front of her face, taking a step backwards as the powerful gust of wind pushed at her young frame. The sky was graying, the sun setting at dusk, not quite day, not quite night.
A rustle and crackling noise catches her attention, from behind her, the hairs on her neck stood on end. As Schuyler turned around, she gasped at the sight before her. A tall tree stood, barren of any leaves. Instead, its branches held an ever-burning fire, monstrous and imposing. The fire just continued to roar, the tree gave no sign of being destroyed, no ash or smoke could be seen.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind the burning tree, slinking its way around. It was person, dressed in a dark cloak and Schuyler recognized it was the female killer from her last dream. The woman's face was obscured by a veil of her long straight hair, her movement looked choppy and all together frightening.
Schuyler took a careful step back. Her heart raced as she thought of a plan of action.
The woman's arms raised, fingers like claws, her whole demeanor looking more beastly than human. She screams something foreign at Schuyler, its sound scratchy and shrilly.
Schuyler did not plan to stick around any longer. Throwing herself back breaking into a run, adrenaline pumped into her limbs. Suddenly she was pushed down as pain shoots up her back. She realizes the woman has caught up with her, digging her clawed hands into the flesh at her back. Schuyler howled in tremendous pain, only to find her voice is gone.
"Shit."
A plastic cup clattered on to the kitchen floor, spilling its orange liquid contents. The marble tile floor glistened with a puddle of orange juice as Mimi Force bent over to pick up her spilled cup.
"I'll clean it, Miss Mimi." Their maid walked into the kitchen, ever efficient.
"Good Morning." Trinity chirped as she entered the kitchen, greeting her daughter and the maid. "Oh, do pour me a glass sweetheart."
Mimi poured a another cup for herself and then one for Trinity, dancing around the maid who was diligently cleaning the spill and hands the extra cup to her mother.
Trinity accepted the glass. "Busy day today?"
"Not really. I have lunch with Ariella later on." Ariella was a hotel heiress two years older than Mimi, who was in town for just a couple days. Mimi didn't really want to see her, but connections were always important to maintain.
"That's wonderful, dear." Trinity replied, not fully invested in the conversation anymore, her gaze on the flat screen TV on the wall, watching the morning news.
Mimi rolled her eyes before grabbing her cup to go back to her room just as Charles walked in, already dressed in a business suit and tie.
"Your son didn't come home last night." He informed Trinity.
This made Mimi stop in her tracks, nearly sloshing the orange juice and spilling it for a second time.
"Did he now?" Trinity didn't sound too concerned, believing Jack to be the responsible one and most likely had a good explanation. "Do you know where he is now?"
"No. Most likely with Schuyler, who also is not here."
"Oh?" Trinity was surprised to hear that.
Mimi stomped back into the kitchen. "Where the hell could they be?"
Charles frowned, not at all fond of Mimi's unladylike behavior. "I was hoping you would know."
"I don't." She glared daggers back at the elder Blue Blood.
Schuyler gasped and jolted up, nearly tipping herself off the side of the bed. A scream bubbled up from her chest, but she quelled it, knowing she was back in her old room and safe.
"Schuyler?" Lawrence asked startling her. "Is everything alright?"
Schuyler nodded, hugging herself, and swallowed the scream. "I had another nightmare."
Lawrence frowned, walking into the room. "Are they getting worse?"
"No." Schuyler lied. "It's okay, just a nightmare, that's all."
Lawrence nodded. "You stayed the night?"
"We must have fallen asleep." She immediately regretted her wording.
"We?" Lawrence's frown deepen, as he searched for the boy who wasn't any longer there.
Jack appeared in the doorway, his expression blank. "Morning."
"You- What-" Lawrence was having a hard time forming a coherent sentence.
"We nodded off while watching TV. It was late and I didn't think sneaking back into the house in the middle of the night would have been proper. So we stayed here. I hope you didn't mind." Jack spoke.
"I...suppose." Lawrence eyed the two suspiciously.
"We should be leaving soon."
"I'll go get ready then." Schuyler announced, rushing past them to her bathroom, suppressing her laugh as she closed the door behind her.
Schuyler would never have thought she would find herself sitting in Charles' den that seconded as his office, being glared down by the elder Blue Blood and Mimi Force. Charles was at his desk looking more annoyed than angry. Mimi stood at his left, arms crossed and looking like she was ready to pummel Schuyler.
Charles sat behind his desk, tapping a gold fountain pen impatiently on his oak desk. "Where do I even begin? How about why you two were missing all day yesterday and failed to come home."
Schuyler looked down, fidgeting in her seat. She was not able to keep her composure as well as Jack, who was in his own chair next to hers.
"We're sorry father."
"Are you really? What gave the grand idea of gallivanting around the city, forgetting your duties, missing important Committee meetings, and not come home?"
Schuyler winced. When he put it that way, it did sound pretty bad.
"We were perfectly safe. I wouldn't doing dangerous." Jack's voice sounded unbelievably even.
Mimi scoffed from her spot next to Charles.
"And what would you have done, had you run into danger? Relied on a Half Blood to help you?"
Schuyler's head shot up at that, feeling the sting from his shot at her inferiority and at his acknowledgment that while there could be danger lurking out in the city, it wouldn't be from Silver Bloods. "What could we have run into?" Her brow shot up defiantly.
Charles trained his eyes on her, "You know what I mean."
"I don't think I do. Could you possible mean Silver Bloods? Finally believe they're a real threat?"
Jack shifted in his seat, most likely not happy with Schuyler testing Charles' temper.
Unnerved, Charles countered, "There could be any number of dangerous subjects you could have run into, least of all Silver Bloods. And let's not be bringing them up again, you're incessant whining is really running on my last nerve."
Schuyler nearly hopped up to here feet. "That's-"
"Where were you two last night?" Charles cut her off, to save him from more of her trouble.
"Back at my house." Schuyler growled out, fueled by her anger.
Charles clenched his jaws, ready to reprimand them.
Jack's smooth voice finally filled the room. "Father, we lost track of time. I should have called, no harm's been done."
With a narrow of his eyes, Charles leaned forward on his desk. "Another similar issue from either of you will award you with dire consequences." He stood, putting hands on his desk for leverage, and looked intensely at Jack. "Need I remind you of your duties and your reputation you must uphold with the community? You will act your age and never pull a stunt like this again."
Jack nodded solemnly. "Understood."
"Dismissed." Charles walked over to tall liquor cabinet on his right, pouring himself a short glass of brandy.
A few days later ...
Schuyler sat in the repository in her favorite seat by the fireplace, the hearth warmed the the cool underground library. Nobody was there except for some red-bloods workers and researchers. Schuyler had been daydreaming again, staring off into the fireplace thinking about nothing in particular.
"I've been looking for you." Bliss Llewellyn greeted her breathlessly, "Why won't you ever answer your phone?"
"I turned the ringer off." She shrugged. She noticed Bliss had puffy eyes like she had been crying. "Are you alright?"
Bliss shook her head, tears daring to come out again. Before explaining to Schuyler though, she turned around and looked out to the stacks expectantly, as if waiting for something to happen. Schuyler stood up, tilting her head to get a better view of whatever Bliss was waiting for.
From behind the stacks, Oliver appeared and walked up reluctantly.
"Hey." He weakly offered.
It was weird to be on speaking terms with him again, but she was grateful, "Hey...what's going on?"
Oliver sighed, "You know some very persuasive people, Schuyler." He continued since she didn't look like she followed. "Bliss came to get me today to try and get me to talk to you again. Which didn't really matter, because Lawrence ordered me to do the same the day before last."
"I didn't ask him to." Schuyler felt the need to add. She motioned for him to come closer and sit before turning to Bliss. "What's wrong Bliss?"
Bliss was still distraught, as she started to explain. Oliver sat in a seat across from them, readying himself for a story he was already privy to.
Bliss's lips quivered, "They took Dylan. The Committee has Dylan."
"Schuyler, there's been a couple of attacks." Oliver added. "And now that they discovered Dylan is a Silver Blood, there going to pin it on him."
Bliss cried. "Dad said wouldn't have matter if there was an attack or not. They were going to arrest him anyways."
Schuyler took all the information in, trying to comprehend it. "When?"
"Three days ago, the day we went to the park." Bliss tried her best to gain her composure. "I left him to go to the Committee meeting. But he didn't come home, then after a couple days, he still didn't come back."
"The Committee ordered to have him arrested. They took him that night." Oliver chimed in.
"How do you know this?" Schuyler asked.
"Lawrence, he was at the arrest."
This took Schuyler off guard, wondering why her 'grandfather' would help in arresting Dylan. And then it dawned on her. "That's where he went. I went to go speak with him that night and he left."
"There must be a mistake. I know Dylan wouldn't hurt anyone." Bliss felt the room getting colder.
"Are you sure?" Schuyler asked quietly.
"Yes!" Bliss spoke louder, as if it would help prove her point. "You two know him longer than I do. Do you really think he would be able to hurt someone, kill them?"
"We want to believe you Bliss." Oliver hesitated, looking down at his feet. "But the fact is, he's a Silver Blood now. And we don't know how much control he has over himself anymore."
Bliss whined painfully, throwing her hands to cover her face.
Schuyler went to her, hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. We'll figure it out, we can go talk with Lawrence."
Bliss uncovered her face, her expression blanking then turned into determination. "You think he'll help?"
Oliver shrugged, getting up. "Wouldn't hurt to try." He avoided Schuyler's gaze and began to head out.
The three of them paced up the stairs of the Repository. The steps were embedded into Schuyler's mind by now: pass through a few corridors, turn around some corners, and then arrive at the hallway connected to the clubs.
The door leading into Block 122 was closer, so naturally Bliss and Oliver walked toward the them.
Hesitating Schuyler slowed her pace. "How bout we go through The Bank? Or just take the direct exit out?" She didn't sound too convincing.
"This way's faster." Oliver answered matter-of-factly before heading through the doors.
Bliss followed suit and left Schuyler with no other option but take that route as well. Oliver probably didn't think of it, but Schuyler prayed that Mimi and Jack were not at their favorite nightly hang out.
Thanks to everyone for following this story so far. You keep me motivated to write, which is incredibly hard for my scatter brain. Next chapter should be up soon, until then!
